Category: Updates from Rose Bay Secondary College

Be prepared for the new school year with our back to school tips and tools.  

The start of a new school year can be both an exciting and demanding time for parents and students alike.

Our parents and carers Back to school hub can help you prepare for the year ahead with practical articles, tools, activities, calendars and checklists so you and your child can be ready from day 1, term 1. 

Find out about what your child will learn in high school, how to support their health and wellbeing, and help them make decisions about their future.

There’s also a dedicated section for students starting Year 7 and Year 11 & 12 where you’ll find tips for a smooth transition into high school, and pathways for students after school.

Video – #FirstDay2021

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Have your say. A short survey for parents and carers is now open to help the Department strengthen consent education for students.

Students from across the state, both past and present, have this year called for improved consent education.

This was sparked by a petition by former Sydney student Chanel Contos, which led to thousands of young people sharing their stories of witnessing or experiencing, sexual harassment, abuse and violence amongst young people.

In response to the voices of young people, the heads of the three education sectors signed a Statement of Intent. In this Statement, the NSW Department of Education committed to a number of actions – including partnering with parents and carers to improve consent education.

There is now an opportunity for parents and carers to have their say by completing a short survey.

This anonymous survey is available in 10 languages other than English and will take less than 10 minutes to complete.

It is part of a collaboration between the NSW Department of Education and the Federation of Parents and Citizens Associations of NSW (P&C) to strengthen students’ understanding of consent and prevent sexual violence among young people.

The results will be shared through NSW Department of Education and P&C websites.

They will help the Department plan how we can better support consent education at school and at home, and understand the kinds of resources parents and carers would find helpful in having important conversations with their children.

Visit the Department’s webpage for frequently asked questions (FAQs) and to find out more about the Statement of Intent or how consent education is taught in NSW Public Schools today.

 

Public school students have again dominated the HSC honours securing 71 of the 126 First in Course awards announced today.

Among the high achievers, Sariena Ye from James Ruse Agricultural High School became only the fourth person since 1991 to secure first place in both Chemistry and Physics – and the first female in 27 years to top both subjects.

NSW Education Secretary Mark Scott congratulated the winners and also paid tribute to every student that had completed their HSC in 2020.

“Those students who received a First in Course – and their families – should be rightly proud of their achievements,” Mr Scott said.

“Considering the particular challenges of 2020, we are extremely proud of every student that has shown the determination and resilience to achieve their best and finish their HSC.

“They now leave school with the skills to embark upon a successful life, no matter what they choose next.”

Public school students secured First in Course across a range of subject areas including, among others, three of the five mathematics and English courses, chemistry and physics, science extension, Aboriginal studies, economics, ancient history, languages and visual arts.

Mr Scott said the diversity of subjects topped by public school students showed NSW Education was committed to quality education across all fields of endeavour.

“Our success in the HSC is also a tribute to the quality of teaching and dedication of staff in supporting our students during their final year of schooling.”

The First in Course winners this year came from a wider selection of schools with James Ruse Agricultural High School the most successful school overall, securing six First in Course positions.

VFest 2021

V-FEST 2021 is premireing on YOUTUBE next Monday 29 November AT 7:00PM.

Here is the link: V-FEST 2021

Relive memorable acts and performances from the past four years in a special televised Schools Spectacular event.

The annual Schools Spectacular, cancelled this year due to the pandemic, will entertain audiences with a special television broadcast next week.

The Schools Spectacular 2020 Remixed will air on Channel 7 on Saturday 5 December at 7pm.

The two-hour broadcast will feature memorable acts and spectacular moments from the past four years.

The show will also feature a surprise digital performance from this year’s graduating Class of 2020 with the Year 12 students sharing their passion and talents while celebrating with NSW Education for one last time.

This technical feat aims to inspire audiences as more than 70 dancers, singers, instrumental musicians and signing performers from across NSW assemble virtually for the performance.

Mark Scott, Secretary of the NSW Department of Education, said this event is an opportunity to revisit memories of past performances and celebrate the talents of students in NSW public schools.

“Schools Spectacular 2020 Remixed will be an extraordinary broadcast and a unique opportunity to look back at some of the many achievements of our talented performing arts students and their hard working and committed teachers from the past four years,” he said.

Audiences can also share their own memories and see highlights from past Schools Spectacular performances on the Schools Spectacular Facebook page.

Schools Spectacular Remixed 2020 is produced by the NSW Department of Education and proudly supported by Presenting Partners, Telstra and the NSW Teachers Federation, and Segment Partner, RØDE Microphones.

Celebrate Schools Spectacular 2020 Remixed on Saturday 5 December at 7pm                    on Channel 7.

 

Is your child interested in learning new skills at school through virtual vocational education and training courses? 

From next year, schools in NSW will be able to offer 20 new virtual vocational courses to Year 11 students. These new industry focused courses will contribute to a student’s HSC and ATAR. They will also give students great in-demand and practical skills for the workplace. 

The courses focus on current skills needs and include: 

• allied health assistant

• game design

• cyber security 

• robotics 

• digital supply chain.

The virtual courses are different to ‘online’ learning in that they are delivered via a virtual classroom with a teacher, other students in the class, and an established weekly timetable. This will be complemented with 24/7 access to content, chat rooms and tutorials to connect with other students. 

Each of the new courses is part of an existing NESA Industry Curriculum Framework (ICF) syllabus. 

Expressions of interest (EOI) for the courses are open now but be quick, as they close on 3 September 2021. Students can find out more at Skills at School, and speak to their school’s VET coordinator or careers advisor to discuss the options available to them.

The semifinalist teams for the virtual Game Changer Challenge 2020 have been announced.

From all corners of NSW 420 students will use their design thinking skills to explore tangible solutions for a real world wicked problem in the 2020 Game Changer Challenge.

Hundreds of applications from NSW public schools were received for the Game Changer Challenge, which this year will be delivered as a colossal virtual event with seven semifinals culminating in a grand final.

The 84 primary and secondary student teams will aim to solve the real world problem: “How might we use technology to bring everyone in our community closer together?”

The student applications covered COVID-19 restrictions, including innovative ways to social distance and sanitise, cutting-edge technology like aerial transport systems, and new ways to ease social isolation, combat racism and build community for people with disability.

Department of Education Secretary Mark Scott said today’s students will solve the great challenges of the future.

“To flourish in this world they will need to be deep thinkers, critical and reflective, empathetic and creative,” he said.

“The Game Changer Challenge aims to highlight and develop these future-focused skills.”

The 84 student teams were judged into the semifinals by a panel of Department of Education executives and design thinking and STEM advisers. The judges were looking for the design thinking trifecta of desirability, feasibility and viability in the students’ applications.

Design thinking is a human-centred approach to solving complex problems, with empathy and collaboration at the heart of the process.

The teams selected for the 2020 Game Changer Challenge will attend an intensive workshop in the semifinals from 27 October to 13 November where they will learn and apply the design thinking process to build on their video application.

They will be guided through the process by expert facilitators and a series of videos produced with thought leaders in technology and innovation.

The winners of the seven semi-finals will be judged in a virtual grand final event for the title of 2020 Game Changer Challenge Champion on 1 December.

Visit the Game Changer Challenge webpage for the full list of semifinalists.

NSW Department of Education STAY COVID safe

With only a month until the first written HSC exams, Year 12 students have an extra place to look for support.

Year 12 and the HSC can be a stressful time, and this year’s students have already overcome bushfires, floods and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The department has brought together new and updated tools to help HSC students stay healthy, active and connected as they finish their final weeks of school.

Stay healthy HSC includes:

• advice about looking after your own mental health and checking in on friends from ReachOut.com
• exam tips from the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA)
• on-demand video lessons, written by teachers, to help with study.

Visit Stay healthy HSC to explore the resources.

This year’s NAIDOC Week theme is ‘Heal Country!’

view celebrations here